Gag-Pol bearing a reverse transcriptase drug-resistant mutation influences viral genomic RNA incorporation into human immunodeficiency virus type 1 particles

J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2669-2677. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.82046-0.

Abstract

The unspliced human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA is both the messenger for Gag and Gag-Pol and the viral genomic RNA (vRNA) that is packaged into the virion. Although Gag alone is sufficient for the incorporation of vRNA into virus particles, Gag-Pol molecules play an important role in vRNA dimerization and virion maturation. Here, a cis model for vRNA packaging was demonstrated, in which nascent Gag-Pol molecules were preferentially co-encapsulated with their cognate RNA used as the template. Genome-incorporation frequencies were evaluated for two distinct HIV-1 proviral clones differing in their ability to respond to nevirapine (NVP) treatment in one round of infection. It was shown that, under NVP selection, there was a twofold-higher incorporation of vRNAs and integration of provirus genome carrying NVP resistance when compared with the wild-type counterpart. Although cis incorporation has been already demonstrated for Gag, the novelty of these findings is that newly acquired resistant mutations in Gag-Pol will select their specific genomic RNA during virus replication, thus rapidly increasing the chance of the emergence of resistant viruses during the course of anti-retroviral treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / genetics
  • Genes, gag*
  • Genes, pol*
  • Genome, Viral
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation*
  • Nevirapine / pharmacology
  • Proviruses / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism*
  • Virus Assembly
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • RNA, Viral
  • Nevirapine
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase